Good Bye Lenin!

So I finally got round to watching Good Bye Lenin! and I was a bit confused initially. It had been recommended to me as a comedy, even on the DVD cover was the quotation “A brilliantly original comedy”, but although it was certainly original and the premise had potential to be very funny I didn’t find it as comedic as I had hoped. A serious drama with humorous moments is probably a better description I feel. However, I was watching it for a purpose; as part of my study of German cinema. Interestingly this film broke the trend somewhat. Where previously the emphasis seemed to have been on Production Design more than story this film focussed primarily on story and character. However, design did play a crucial role as the story centres around the changes within Germany as the Berlin wall comes down. Much of the ‘western’ influences are told visually, for example the ‘Coca-cola’ logo popping up all over the place. Westernisation is seen as negative in the film and yet ironically this film is more ‘westernised’ than the other German films I’ve seen. Although it has lost that unique German look and texture it has not forsaken the artistic quality and emotional depth of a European production; the contrast in style and tone would have been immense had Hollywood got their hands on this premise first.